Beginings... Not easy at all..!

[pna]

Omg what is it about, i'm getting a headache!

Trying to set a way to work; but it seems impossible (let's say, difficult !)

 

I wanted to add parts to my project: I try with adding "section" but it doesn't create a section beginning with a new page. Ok, first issue, first interruption.

So i tried with "chapter". Ok it does, but it creates me a "chapter page" with settings i don't want, like a "model" : courier font, "chapter" written in the middle of the page, etc.

So then i tried to edit the "chapter styles". But when i try to modify the generic chapter style, good once for all, as I would like it to be and behave for all this project long, the chapter disappears.... I'm not dreaming ! (the "chapter piece" in the project view, with an arrow we can click and open, disappears, maybe transformed in a section ? I don't really understand what Storyist do, here)

I do it again: create a new chapter, trying to modify, and again it disappears or transform in section maybe (If I understand, because differences between sections and chapter are not very clear..)

 

Ok, I try with a brand new project, using the blank template... And now, then I even can't add a text page ! Only "notes".....

Headache, I said...

And I did read the tutorial, before all of that.. And I have now to cry "help" in the forum section, and in english, what is very difficult for me...

 

Then I tried again with the novel model.

I replace the pre-defined "chapter 1" and "chapter 2" with my chapter names. (an absurd way to work, I guess)

Then I tried to change the body of the text (and I don't even already tried to change that "issue style" that put me in the middle of the page, with that courier font, and so on ..), but it changes the title also in the project view !!!!

But if I want that the chapter title appears in the project view (like a file name of the chapter), but not in the main view, in the body of the text ?? Is it impossible ?? How can I do that... ? I'm struggling since hours with these basic settings, and that makes me very very annoyed, even more !!

Shouldn't be easy to do easy things like that..?

 

And I don't talk about weirdness (seem!) in story-or-corkboard view: when I select the upper project item in the project view (=my project), on the left, only the first section/index card is visible, and not all of them !!! However, in this item, there are three index cards which should appear...). Well, this is a minor question, I guess..

 

But I don't mention that when i create a project in the ipad app, and import a text file from dropbox in this project, this file disappear when working on the mac app.... ("this project is missing the following files "xxxxxx". A backup copy of this project has been created and labeled with the comment "missing files" ") Obviously, when I open the backups, the same message appears again and again, with no way to find this missing file... Scaring!!!... (It was just a little txt file, nothing complicated!)

Really confused.

And i didn't work...!

[green_knight]

 

I wanted to add parts to my project: I try with adding "section" but it doesn't create a section beginning with a new page.

 

Sections continue - you can only use the # marker, formatted as 'section separator' - what it does, is to make an 'Untitled Section' appear on the left.

 

So i tried with "chapter". Ok it does, but it creates me a "chapter page" with settings i don't want, like a "model" : courier font, "chapter" written in the middle of the page, etc.

So then i tried to edit the "chapter styles". But when i try to modify the generic chapter style, good once for all, as I would like it to be and behave for all this project long, the chapter disappears.... I'm not dreaming !

 

Take a deep breath ;-)

 

Try typing some text, eg 'chapter 1'. Then open the inspector, click on the paragraph symbol (the inverted 'P') and mark it as 'Chapter Title. You will, indeed, get the Courier halfway down the page etc etc. Now click on the little arrow next to the style name, and choose 'edit style'. You want to remove the large number from the 'before paragraph' box, choose the font you want etc. Then click OK. Your chapter title should now be formatted at the top of a page.

 

 

 

(the "chapter piece" in the project view, with an arrow we can click and open, disappears, maybe transformed in a section ? I don't really understand what Storyist do, here)

 

It sounds as if you're deleting the chapter title, or turning it into a different style. I've been able to duplicate this, but only in one particular instant, and when I played around a bit more,suddenly all of my chapter titles jumped back to where they ought to be, but for a brief moment, I definitely had text that was correctly marked as being in style 'Chapter Title' sitting directly underneath the real chapter title, so you're not imagining things.

 

I've never had a problem just writing text and marking it as chapter title, so keep persevering.

 

I do it again: create a new chapter, trying to modify, and again it disappears or transform in section maybe (If I understand, because differences between sections and chapter are not very clear..)

 

Chapters start on a new page, turn up in the list as expandable (heading 1) items, and can contain text on subordinate levels as well as body text. Sections are body text, they're all equal, and can't contain anything else.

 

Ok, I try with a brand new project, using the blank template... And now, then I even can't add a text page ! Only "notes".....

 

You need to add a manuscript before you can add text.

 

Then I tried to change the body of the text (and I don't even already tried to change that "issue style" that put me in the middle of the page, with that courier font, and so on ..), but it changes the title also in the project view !!!!

 

That's a feature - if you're using the 'chapter title' style, anything you type gets turned into the chapter in the list. If you change it in the list, it will change the text of the chapter title as well. This is a feature rather than a bug.

 

But if I want that the chapter title appears in the project view (like a file name of the chapter), but not in the main view, in the body of the text ?? Is it impossible ?? How can I do that... ?

 

Set the font colour for the chapter title to white ;-)

 

I can't help with your other problems, but I'm hoping that this will help you out a bit.

[Steve]

Hi pna,

 

Omg what is it about, i'm getting a headache!

Trying to set a way to work; but it seems impossible (let's say, difficult !)

 

I wanted to add parts to my project: I try with adding "section" but it doesn't create a section beginning with a new page. Ok, first issue, first interruption.

So i tried with "chapter". Ok it does, but it creates me a "chapter page" with settings i don't want, like a "model" : courier font, "chapter" written in the middle of the page, etc.

So then i tried to edit the "chapter styles". But when i try to modify the generic chapter style, good once for all, as I would like it to be and behave for all this project long, the chapter disappears.... I'm not dreaming ! (the "chapter piece" in the project view, with an arrow we can click and open, disappears, maybe transformed in a section ? I don't really understand what Storyist do, here)

I do it again: create a new chapter, trying to modify, and again it disappears or transform in section maybe (If I understand, because differences between sections and chapter are not very clear..)

 

You might find this screencast on creating custom templates helpful:

 

http://storyist.com/assets/screencasts/Custom-Project-Templates.mov

 

It covers creating styles with different fonts and saving the result as a template for future projects.

 

Ok, I try with a brand new project, using the blank template... And now, then I even can't add a text page ! Only "notes".....

Headache, I said...

And I did read the tutorial, before all of that.. And I have now to cry "help" in the forum section, and in english, what is very difficult for me...

 

After creating a project from the Blank template, you can add manuscripts, scripts, and other items to the project using the Project > Add to Project command. You can also import RTF, Word, or plain text files to the project using the File > Import command or by simply dragging them to the Project view.

 

Then I tried again with the novel model.

I replace the pre-defined "chapter 1" and "chapter 2" with my chapter names. (an absurd way to work, I guess)

Then I tried to change the body of the text (and I don't even already tried to change that "issue style" that put me in the middle of the page, with that courier font, and so on ..), but it changes the title also in the project view !!!!

But if I want that the chapter title appears in the project view (like a file name of the chapter), but not in the main view, in the body of the text ?? Is it impossible ?? How can I do that... ? I'm struggling since hours with these basic settings, and that makes me very very annoyed, even more !!

Shouldn't be easy to do easy things like that..?

 

The manuscript outline in the project view is just that: an outline. If you type a chapter title (or other heading level paragraph) in the text, it appears in the outline in the Project view.

 

And I don't talk about weirdness (seem!) in story-or-corkboard view: when I select the upper project item in the project view (=my project), on the left, only the first section/index card is visible, and not all of them !!! However, in this item, there are three index cards which should appear...). Well, this is a minor question, I guess..

 

I'm not sure I understand what you're asking (so please correct me if I'm wrong ). The storyboard shows index cards for each heading level paragraph (e.g. Chapter Title) and each body text section. If you're not seeing cards for chapters or sections make sure that the chapters have a heading-level style and that sections are separated by the section separator character ("#").

 

But I don't mention that when i create a project in the ipad app, and import a text file from dropbox in this project, this file disappear when working on the mac app.... ("this project is missing the following files "xxxxxx". A backup copy of this project has been created and labeled with the comment "missing files" ") Obviously, when I open the backups, the same message appears again and again, with no way to find this missing file... Scaring!!!... (It was just a little txt file, nothing complicated!)

Really confused.

And i didn't work...!

 

If you can send a small example file to the support email address, I'd be happy to take a look and see what is going on.

 

-Steve

[pna]

Thank you Steve and green_knight for your response and support.

I'm going to look precisely all your responses. I'm afraid it will ask some time.. And I'm not sure I want to put so much time in that..!

I'm trying to work and specially to understand because I want(ed!) to manage with that tool..

But, very difficult. Not intuitive as I was expecting.

Maybe not intuitive but powerful ? I don't know yet because I can't even make a pleasant template..

Maybe is it created to be used only (or almost) with the prepared templates and settings, and that's all, without formatting easily ? I don't know. Hard to understand, finally, what is the goal of the app. When I go to the deeper settings, the documents became more and more a mess.

Yesterday I was very disapointed, (the tone of my messages must reflect that feeling !), It is very frustrating to be blocked just by formatting or the simple beginning of the work ! (= blocked by making a nice blank page or structure !!.... )

 

Today I dived in the deepest settings (edit styles) but, it is too complicated. Changing, what, the current style, the generic style, using so many settings... I've watched some screencasts, but they doesn't help me, they miss general understanding and general lines of the program and basic actions.

I've watched the "adding an Outline level" screencast, and reading this topic:

http://storyist.invisionzone.com/index.php/topic/251-howto-create-a-template-having-more-than-one-level/

, doing the same things, but It's confusing again. Where to makes changes: in the inspector, in a new template, in a current work, wich style to edit: current, new one, ... ? And where all the changes will be reflected ? (...) Every new document forever ?

So many differences in the cm indents (with strange value like 0,423 cm, 1,27 cm..), "after and before paragraphs", tabs, etc, according to the (so many) different types of formatting that if I modify some, the document will be totally disordered! I guess i don't touch the logic... (but I recognize that logic is not my best part of myself!!)

Sometimes, there are x character (or points) before or after the paragraph, without being able to understand what to do with that (when modifying these settings, the script become totally a mess, with totally messy line spacings !!

 

I don't want to learn typography before being able to work and write. But It seems although the only way: what is differences between default style, body text, headings, chapter, title, section text, section separator, etc...... !

In "common french" these words even doesn't exist !! we have "text", "paragraph", "titles", and that' almost all. Or it is about to became a specialist.

For me all of that is very very confusing.

 

Some exemples of my confusion !:

 

What is difference between manuscript and script ?

Why doesn't do nothing when I select Script (or manuscript) on the toolbar (what the use of these buttons??)

And, what is the link between index cards and the real text ? The beginning user's guide let us in the dark !!

Are notebook index cards, or pieces of drafts ? (when i click on "notebook" in the tool bar, I pass on the storyboard (or ?) view

Why sometimes a grey background, and sometimes cork? I'm sure there is a good reason, but none easy way to understand..

I don't say it is not good, i say it is very hard to handle.

 

Just an other exemple: writing that message, I select "chapter 2" (it became blue) in the project view.

Then, I click on "script" or "manuscript". The main text returns to the beginning (why, what is that behavior ??) but the "chapter 2" item stay blue ?? Very irritating (excuse me !) !

I'm feeling loosing time instead of winning mental focus and mind availability (the only thing I'm exercising with difficulty is english, reading the options, the guide, the forums !)

Why items doesn't follow (by being selected) where I'm working in the text ?

I find that the "link" between text and outline became then, very blurry.. Sometimes, i make changes and the document goes up or goes down i don't know why!

Working on different parts of my text, I often don't know where I'm in my structure..., and then the project view is less useful as it could or should be .. It would be great that the items on the project view follow, being blue like selected item on any app !!

It seems like there is not connection between the two.

 

I wanted to edit preferences of my play. I "edit "my play" preferences" and try to "edit outline elements" (clicking on the +"), but i can't add anything...

I did not expect so many difficulties with a writing software...!

Let's say I'll maybe try again .. Maybe I am not patient enough ?

Thanks for having wanted to help me!

[pna]

Shorter than Today, 04:48 PM !!:

 

What, should be the easyest thing in the world, I would like to do:

A Stage play with

ACT 1

ACT 2

ACT 3

(and even ACT 4 if I want, later..!)

like little folders in the project view with "arrows I can click on" (!) to create and rearrange scenes in it.

I don't want that on my text the mention "ACT1" appears (like in my acts folders)

(they just have to be "folders", and if I need it, later, I would like to have the right and possibility to add a single blank page with "act 1" written on..)

And I would like that my scenes (scene heading ??) begins in a new page and be independant item from/to each other .... (so I can reorder them easily in the project view, or add some new one between to scenes, etc)

For the moment, that's all !

I could do that in two seconds with any "text tools" or editors that I used before !! (and I want to believe it is possible easily here, too, ... hmm, hoping !)

Thank You so much if you can help me doing that !, because the different "styles managing" are - for me - incomprehensible and unusable (create new style from selection, create new style, edit style, redefine style, ... Is that devil !!?!)

 

(PS: I really don't understand differences (and uses) between headings, body text, default style, and so on..., and, especially, what is important, I don't know what to do with them!)

(but I undersand and find great, action, character, dialog, parenthetical, shot and transition !)

[Steve]

Hi pna,

 

I'll try to address your questions below.

 

Today I dived in the deepest settings (edit styles) but, it is too complicated...

 

I don't want to learn typography before being able to work and write. But It seems although the only way: what is differences between default style, body text, headings, chapter, title, section text, section separator, etc...... !

In "common french" these words even doesn't exist !! we have "text", "paragraph", "titles", and that' almost all. Or it is about to became a specialist.

For me all of that is very very confusing.

 

You don't need to learn typography to write, but if you want to create custom templates, you do need to know (or learn about) styles.

 

Styles are named collections of formatting settings. The style names in the default templates use the terminology common to the field the template is intended for. For example, the Novel template has styles named "Chapter Title" and "Section Text" because those are terms that English speaking novelists commonly use. The Screenplay template has styles named "Scene Heading" and "Action" because these are the terms that screenwriters use. Storyist isn't currently localized to French, and perhaps the terminology is different.

 

So many differences in the cm indents (with strange value like 0,423 cm, 1,27 cm..), "after and before paragraphs", tabs, etc, according to the (so many) different types of formatting that if I modify some, the document will be totally disordered! I guess i don't touch the logic... (but I recognize that logic is not my best part of myself!!)

 

The paragraph spacing in the default templates use inches rather than centimeters. Your Mac is probably set up to use metric measurement units, so you're seeing the metric equivalent. For example, 1.27 cm is one half inch.

 

 

Some exemples of my confusion !:

 

What is difference between manuscript and script ?

 

Novelists tend to use the term "manuscript" to refer to their work-in-progress while screenwriters use the term "script." The toolbar icons accommodate these differences.

 

Why doesn't do nothing when I select Script (or manuscript) on the toolbar (what the use of these buttons??)

 

The Script/Manuscript button takes you back to your script or manuscript. The Characters button takes you to your characters storyboard. If you're already viewing these items, you won't see a change.

 

And, what is the link between index cards and the real text ? The beginning user's guide let us in the dark !!

 

In a manuscript or script, each scene or section of "real text" has an index card you can use to add notes on the text.

 

Are notebook index cards, or pieces of drafts ? (when i click on "notebook" in the tool bar, I pass on the storyboard (or ?) view

 

Notebook entries are stand-alone documents and the card represents the document.

 

Why sometimes a grey background, and sometimes cork? I'm sure there is a good reason, but none easy way to understand..

 

The gray background is the background you get when you choose View > as Text. The cork board is the background you get when you choose View > as Storyboard.

 

I'm feeling loosing time instead of winning mental focus and mind availability (the only thing I'm exercising with difficulty is english, reading the options, the guide, the forums !)

 

Your English is quite good (much better than my French ). But if you feel like you're spending too much time on the tool and not enough on the writing, feel free to set it aside. Writing time is precious.

 

-Steve

[Steve]

Hi pna,

 

I also want to add that if you just want to create a template with some custom formatting and measurements, I'd be happy to put one together for you and post it in the Sharing section here. If you're interested, just reply with the formatting parameters.

 

-Steve

[pna]

Hi Steve, thank you again for these precise and useful answers.

I'll try to be a little more patient and to progress in the learning of the app..!

I'm (too!) impatient because I want to work with it, and because I really want to like it, to "get" it!

I find the ipad app very very fine, and I already tried some of writing tools. But the storyist ipad app, when I launched and tried it, had something obvious, distinctive, "brillant"..

(and that's also why the mac app seemed more complicated to me, after, especially that I use sometimes an app (just to note) very quick, light, and easy to use. But it is for very different purposes, totally minimalist, only to get quick notes and using txt only)

 

About the cork and the grey background: I was only talking about the index card mode. When I want to write some words on the cards, it begins with a cork background, before appears a grey one and to be able to write on one of them.

I wanted to mean that to write on it, I find it a little bit complicated: I have to make a right click first (not very convenient), or, if I directly click on the card, it passes on a grey background before to be able to write on it (=4 clicks) (and sometimes the card has a sort of "flick", first). I don't see the point of these steps; I'd love to just click on the card and to write on it! It would be so much faster, when you want to outline some scenes with just some words and have to edit tens of cards.

But may be this is an other thing I didn't get yet.

 

Thank you for your proposal to make a template for me..I really appreciate.

I should try again a little, to succeed I hope in some days maybe ?

and if I really have to much issues to succeed, it will be very kind of you.

 

For the moment I'll work a little without understanding-and-control everything..

I just did create a style called "ACTE" based on "scene heading" with the option "paragraphs starts on a new page" checked, and I edited the style "Scene heading" with "paragraph starts on a new page" checked too.

And I did't modify the "before paragraph spacing" setting which is quite "touchy" and obscure for me yet..!

Thank you again.